Jessie Harland Davis

Jessie Harland Davis, 98, of Naples, Florida (formerly a lifelong resident of Fork Union, VA) passed away peacefully on June 15, 2025.

Born on August 29, 1926 at her childhood home in Fork Union, VA to the late Henry Hughes Davis & Eva Harland Davis. After graduating from Fluvanna County High School, she went to work at Fork Union Military Academy (FUMA) in 1944. It was there she met her late husband, Arthur “Art” Hopper Collins, Jr. As Art was an Army officer, she would leave FUMA temporarily to follow his military career in Ft. Benning, GA and Germany. After the birth of her three children, she eventually returned to her roots and the school she treasured. Over the years, she served the school in various administrative rolesbefore finally retiring in 2004 after several decades of dedicated service.

Jessie loved sports (playing basketball in her younger years and watching in her golden years). She was a huge FUMA and UVA basketball fan! She enjoyed many games in person in her earlier years and watching on television in her elder years. She wasalso an avid bridge and bingo player late into her golden years. Jessie also had a passion for collecting hummels. More than anything, Jessie loved her family and living on her family homeplace along the Rivanna River (or the “Rivanna Riviera” as the family jokingly called it), next door to her sister, her best friend, for most of her life. Even in her nineties, the two would talk almost nightly by phone.

Jessie was predeceased by her three children, Wendy Benton Collins, Nancy Laura Collins, and Henry “Hank” RobertCollins, and her brother, John “Jack” Abbot Davis. She is survived by her sister, Grace Powell Bryant, sister-in-law, Sue Watkins Davis, six grandchildren, John Alexander, Holly Sidwell, Sarah Godfrey, Tammy Tignor, Tim Mitchell, and Eva Greenling, thirteen great-grandchildren, Henry, Ruthie, Emma, Gunner, Deacon, Lexie, Colin, Cassidy, Madison, Nicholas, Damon, Dominic, and Lucas, and two great-great-grandchildren, Kiyo and Ariella, as well as four nephews, and six nieces, whom she loved dearly.

Jessie Harland Davis was light hearted, always positive, a pilar of strength, friend to everyone, and loved by all that she came into contact with. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

There will be a public Celebration of Life for Jessie to be held at the FUMA chapel on Saturday, November 8th at 11am. Everyone is encouraged to wear FUMA or UVA attire in her honor. Memorial donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the American Cancer Society.